There is a folk saying that around 12 o'clock at night is the time when the yin energy is the strongest, which is also the time when the chance of encountering ghosts on the Ghost Festival increases greatly. Therefore, on this day, we can pay attention to our sleep time and try to go to bed before 12 o'clock to maintain good sleep habits and physical health. However, it is not necessarily required to strictly follow these sleep taboos; the most important thing is to adjust your sleep schedule according to your personal situation and physical condition to ensure sufficient rest.
The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is also one of the traditional Chinese festivals for honoring ancestors. The culture behind it reflects a kind of belief. The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is part of the intangible cultural heritage, a kind of culture, an ancient yet modern tradition of remembering ancestors. This tradition embodies the ancient idea of "being cautious in the end and remembering the past," with its cultural core being respect for ancestors and filial piety.
What should you carry on your person when going out on the Ghost Festival
Obsidian
Wearing obsidian when going out on the Ghost Festival can also serve as protection. Since ancient times, obsidian has been used as a talisman and amulet. In traditional Chinese folklore, obsidian is often combined with a "Pi Xiu" (a mythical creature) to create various ornaments and decorations, which are worn or placed at home to attract wealth, change luck, ward off evil spirits, and protect the house.
Coccocyparis
Coccocyparis is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine material. Wearing coccocyparis for a long time can help relieve wind and dampness. In fact, coccocyparis not only has medical effects but also has the function of warding off evil. There has been a folk saying in China that coccocyparis can remove evil spirits and purify the air, avoiding misfortune and changing luck. This practice is still in use today.
If you are driving on the Ghost Festival, you can hang a peach wood talisman in your car. Peach wood talismans are a long-standing Chinese folk culture, intended to pray for blessings and eliminate misfortune, so they also have the effect of repelling evil spirits and ghosts.
Cinnabar
Ancients believed that cinnabar has the power to ward off evil. Because cinnabar is red in color, if cinnabar is mixed into jade, it will cause a staining effect, known as "cinnabar stain" in the folk. For example, round beads, tube beads, peace pendants, and Buddha heads, these items are not pure cinnabar, but a mixture of cinnabar powder and gelatin.
